Eden Mills Writers’ Festival Cancels AI Workshop Amid Backlash
The Eden Mills Writers’ Festival recently decided to cancel a planned workshop featuring an AI chatbot author after facing strong criticism from the literary community. The event, titled “Dear AI, Am I talking to Myself,” was intended to spark discussion about AI's influence on writing, including ethical and social challenges.
In a statement posted on August 17, the festival acknowledged that their initial promotion of the workshop missed the mark. They stressed that the goal was to foster thoughtful conversations rather than celebrate AI without critique.
Community Pushback on AI Representation
The controversy began with a social media post promoting an AI author named Aiden Cinnamon Tea, a generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) created by Shawn Van Sluys, executive director of the Musagetes Foundation. Many writers expressed strong disapproval, arguing that AI models are built on content taken from human authors without consent.
- Canadian poet Paul Vermeersch commented, “AI learning models are entirely built on work stolen from writers who write their own work. This is absolutely disgusting, and a profound insult to every writer you pretend to support.”
- Similar responses flooded the post, reflecting widespread frustration within the writing community.
Festival’s Response and Adjustments
Originally, the workshop was designed as a demonstration of the AI author by Van Sluys, who was also slated to participate in the panel titled “We Are The Ghosts In The Machine.” This panel aimed to explore the intersections of biological and artificial intelligence, creativity, memory, and automation.
After backlash, the AI was removed from the event, and Van Sluys subsequently withdrew from the panel. Jasper Smith, the festival’s executive director, explained that the AI’s creator, Vanessa Machado de Oliveira, was initially invited but unable to attend, leading to Van Sluys stepping in as a “steward.”
Smith emphasized that the festival’s intention was to create a space for writers to engage with the ethical, cultural, and ecological questions AI raises—not to promote AI uncritically.
Continuing the Conversation on AI
Smith acknowledged the strong emotions surrounding AI in the literary world and said the festival takes these concerns seriously. He also confirmed that discussions about AI remain part of the festival, with the panel continuing without AI or Van Sluys.
To address community concerns, the festival will replace the original workshop with an “AI concerns listening circle.” This new session will offer attendees the chance to express their grief, anger, and questions about AI, while reaffirming the festival’s commitment to human creativity.
“The backlash showed us that people want to have this conversation, and we’re not shying away from that,” Smith said.
Implications for Writers
This situation highlights the tension many writers feel about AI’s role in creative work. Concerns about ownership, ethical use, and respect for human creativity remain front and center.
For writers seeking to understand AI’s impact on their craft, it’s important to engage with these debates and explore educational resources that address both the opportunities and challenges AI presents. For those interested, Complete AI Training offers courses on AI tools and ethical considerations that can provide practical insights.
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